An defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
